Christie Property Group

Neighborhood Description

The Meatpacking District has undergone many changes throughout the past few decades. While the area was largely undesirable throughout the 1980s, the Meatpacking District began transforming in the late 1990s, eventually culminating in the neighborhood's status today as one of the trendiest in Manhattan. It is a significant hub for the fashion industry, featuring several top-name boutiques. The store types are reflective of the neighborhood’s primary demographic: well-off professionals, many in their 30s and 40s. A main area of commerce, Little West 12th Street is packed with restaurants, including a new beer garden at the Standard Hotel and Brass Monkey Bar, which always seems to overflow into the streets. For a quieter living experience, consider renting an apartment on 15th or 16th Street. Apartments along the Hudson River, or on one of the streets just outside of the Meatpacking District, but still in close proximity, like Horatio, Jane, and West 4th.

The neighborhood is still true to its neighborhood name, as there are a few remaining meatpacking warehouses along the Hudson River and near the High Line Park. Many of the streets are cobblestone and much of the Meatpacking displays a cafe culture reminiscent of Europe.

The buildings of the Meatpacking District are either traditional warehouses that have been converted into residential/retail spaces or newly built high rises with sleek modern looks, big windows and (in some cases) great views of the Hudson river. Here and there, you can still find a traditional NYC brownstone. As with most apartments in NYC, if you want the charm of a Meatpacking brownstone, you likely will have to give up amenities like a doorman, washer/dryer, elevator, gym in building, etc. That said, you should be able to find either new construction buildings or converted warehouses that offer some of these features.

Two favorite attractions in the Meatpacking District are Chelsea Market and the High Line Park. The High Line is a recently opened above ground train track that has been transformed into a park. The park has lots of old NYC character and brings some green to an otherwise urban area.

The Meatpacking District is bordered by the Hudson River/West Side Highway on the West, Gansevoort on the South, Hudson/8th Avenue on the East and North to 16th Street. Defined more broadly, some include Horatio Street to the South, and 18th Street to the North.

Subway options are the 14th Street stop (A, C, E), the 8th Avenue stoop (L), the 14th Street PATH station, which makes for easy access to New Jersey and midtown. Many bus lines, such as the M14A, M14D, M7, and M20, run along West 14th Street and down 8th Avenue, providing multiple options for commuters and visitors alike.